In Solidarity for a Green World
Our Vicechair, Barbara Echlin, reflects on the upcoming climate conference in Azerbaijan. You are welcome to adapt this for your local parish magazine.
COP29, the United Nations climate conference, takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November. The theme is “In Solidarity for a Green World” which is quite a challenge in a world of conflict and climate extremes. COP stands for Conference of the Parties which means the countries who have signed up to an international climate treaty that includes almost every nation. The three main areas for negotiation are climate finance, new pledges on cutting emissions and the beginning of the end of fossil fuels.
Money is needed to help poorer countries finance cutting their emissions and adapting to climate disruption. At the Glasgow COP in 2021 there was an agreement to set up a new loss and damage fund to support the poorest countries to deal with the loss and damage caused by climate disruption eg Tuvalu needs funds to stop land sinking, Fiji needs funds to relocate people, Madagascar needs funds for weather resilient rice. The big debate is who will pay? The wealthy countries who have historically emitted most of the carbon? The newcomers on the global stage such as China and India who did little damage in the past, but now add significantly to the carbon in the present?
At Paris in 2015 there was agreement to stop global temperatures rising more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average. Countries also pledged to declare how they would do their fair share to stick to this target and to keep raising these commitments for the next ten years. Will they do what is necessary and prepare to pledge new higher targets to cut emissions through this decade and into the next?
The last COP in 2023, for the first time, formally acknowledged that the use of coal, oil and gas has to end. They made an historic commitment to transition away from fossil fuels. Nothing much has happened since. Will any progress be made in Baku on that commitment – especially from the big emitters – the USA, EU and China? What will our own government do?
There will be Christian delegations at COP29 who want their presence to bring a message of hope which comes from faith in God, and to encourage the negotiations to prioritise peace, to listen to the wisdom of indigenous communities, and to work for justice, especially on climate finance. Cafod has produced prayers. The World Council of Churches calls for urgent action. Green Christian will be praying at 8am each day. The Church of England suggest we use this prayer in their Short Guide to COP29:
Creator God, Giver of life,
You sustain the earth and direct the nations.
In this time of climate crisis,
grant us clarity to hear the groaning of creation
and the cries of the poor;
Challenge us to change our lifestyles;
Guide our leaders to take courageous action;
Enable your church to be a beacon of hope;
And foster with us a renewed vision of your purpose for your world;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
by and for whom all things were made. Amen
Pray with us every morning of COP29
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